Champaign Refugee Center reacts to sweeping travel bans and restrictions
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — President Trump signed a proclamation Wednesday that bans visitors and immigrants from 12 countries and restricts the entry of people from another seven.
This has some in Central Illinois, including those at the Refugee Center in Champaign scared, but Trump said it's necessary for the security of the country.
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'It can't come fast enough, we don't want other bad people coming into our country,' Trump said.
The countries facing full bans include:
Afghanistan
Myanmar
Chad
Republic of Congo
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Haiti
Iran
Libya
Somalia
Sudan
Yemen
The countries facing restrictions include:
Burundi
Cuba
Laos
Sierra Leone
Togo
Turkmenistan
Venezuela
Long called the melting pot, Refugee Center Director Lisa Wilson said Trump's proclamation goes directly against what the country represents. She and her team work daily helping immigrants immerse themselves into their new homes.
'It flies in the face of what America stands for,' Wilson said. 'Unless you were a Native American, at some point in our history, somebody in your family decided they were in a situation where they could not stay in their home country, and they had no choice but to leave.'
Wednesday's proclamation doesn't take effect until Monday, but Trump said this continuation of his first term actions will protect Americans from countries that lack vetting and screening.
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'It is the policy of the United States to protect its citizens from aliens who intend to commit terrorist attacks, threaten our national security, hateful ideology, or otherwise exploit the immigration laws,' Trump said in the proclamation.
Wilson said if Trump is so concerned about security, he should have never suspended the country's Refugee Admissions Program in January.
'The refugee resettlement system has multiple checks and balances, multiple security steps that the Department of State is in control of,' Wilson said. 'This isn't dependent on a country of origin.'
She said Champaign County has large populations of people from Afghanistan, the Republic of Congo and Venezuela. She said this ban, although it has exceptions, could keep families apart indefinitely.
'I do think there is a tendency of this administration to demonize immigrants, especially non-Christian immigrants,' Wilson said.
There are several exceptions, however. Those include:
U.S. permanent residents and the spouses and children of U.S. citizens who have 'clear and convincing evidence of identity and family relationship'
Afghans who assisted American forces and have special visas
Diplomats
Athletes coming to the U.S. for the World Cup, the Olympics and other major sporting events
Dual nationals with a passport from a country not listed in the President's decree
Adoptions
Ethnic and religious minorities facing persecution in Iran with immigrant visas
Exceptions made by the attorney general or secretary of state for travel deemed as advancing 'United States national interest'
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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